Equalizer for variable-tension motors



E. H. PlEBSEN.

EQUALIZER FOR VARIABLE TENSION MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, 1915.

1,359A6Q, Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 2

' mvmron. Edwin J2. Pzlersen.

rkmx E. H. PIERSEN. EQUALIZER FOR VARIABLE TENSION MOTORS. APPLICATIONFILED AUG.2, I915.

1,359,464. Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T 34 a5 30 A9 WITNESSES. INVENTOH.

Edwin fzfplkrsen.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN n. rinnsniv, or rornira, KANSAS.

EQUALIZER FOR. VARIABLE-TENSION MOTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NQ 16, 1920.

Application filed August 2, 1915. Serial No. 43,118.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. PIERSEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Equalizers forVariable-Tension Motors; and. I do declare the following be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to equalizers, and more particularly to a devicefor equalizing the tension of a spring motor, or the like, the principalobject of the invention being to provide mechanism which may beinterposed between a spring motor and the point of power consumption tomaintain an even pressure 011 the latter irrespective of the speed atwhich the power is delivered from the former.

In the operation of certain kinds of machinery, it is convenient to usea spring motor, but owing to the excessive tension of the power when themotor is wound to its capacity, it has been found to have disadvantages,owing to the strain imposed on the machine parts. I have found that byusing separate springs auxiliary to the motor, and providing means forautomatically tensioning these springs from, and check ing the power ofthe spring motor, a practically constant pressure can be obtained,irrespective of the speed of the motor or the machinery operatedtherefrom.

In accomplishing the object of the invention, I have provided theimproved details of structure hereinafter described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a plan view of anequalizer constructed in accordance with my invention, showing itsrelation to a spring motor, power shaft, and governor control.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the same, parts being broken away for betterillustration.

Fig. 111 is a longitudinal sectional view of the e ualizer and springmotor.

Fig. V is a sectional elevation of the equalizer on the line lV-IV, Fig.111.

Fig. V is a similar view on the line V--V, Fig. III.

Fig. VI is a detail view of theratchet pawl for holding the spring motoragainst unwinding.

Referring more in detail to the parts 1 designates a frame preferablycomposed of metal and having bearings 2, in which is 11 that isoperatively connected to said' gear wheel through the shaft 12 andpinion 13. I

Fixed to the sleeve 6 by means of a stud 14: is one end of a volutespring 15, the opposite end being connected with a stud 16 in a casing17 that ishrevolubly mounted on the sleeves 6 and 7 respectively.Separated.

1 from the spring 15 by means of a dividing plate 18 is a second volutespring 19, which is attached to a stud 20 in the casing 17 and .1 to astud 21 in the sleeve 7 and which is coiled in the opposite directionfrom the spring 15 so that when the crank 11 is revolved to turn thesleeve 6, the spring 15 will be ten, sioned and carry the casing 17around to tension the spring 19.

Fixed on an extended portion of the sleeve 7 by means of a set screw 23is a collar 24, having a laterally extending, peripheral flange 25, andrigidly secured to said flange by means of screws 26 is a ring 27; thering and collar extending beyond the flange 25 to form an annular groove28.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 29, that is carried by collar 24 and ring 27,and nested within the groove 28, is a spread-band 30, which is splitopposite the mounting, and provided with enlarged heads 31, betweenwhich operates a cam 32 in such a manner that when the cam is rocked,the spreadband may be spread so as to grip the inner face of a looseband 33 that rides on the collar 24 and ring 27. v

The band 33 is provided with an inset shoulder 84, which rests looselyin the groove 28 to prevent lateral displacement thereof, and integralwith the outer face of the band is a plurality of ratchet teeth 35,which are engaged by a pa'wl36 in the frame 1 that is heldyieldinglytoward the teeth by a coil spring 37.

The cam 32 is pivotally mounted in the ring 27 and collar 24 andprovided with an arm 39, which projects intoithepath of one of the studs40 on the gear wheel 41, the said gear wheel being revolubly mounted onthe sleeve 7 and adapted to meshwith a gear wheel 42 revol'ubly mountedon the stub shaft 43 on the frame 1.

The gear Wheel 42- meshes with a gear Wheel 44 onthe shaft 45 of amachine or any pointofpower consumption, (not shown) and also carries agear wheel 47, which meshes with a pinion 48 of av governor 49 thatmaybe regulatedthrough a speedcontrolling mechanism 50.

Attached to ea; h of the studs 40 is one end of a spring 51, theoppositeends of said springs being secured to pins 52 in the aterallyprojecting portions 53 ota floating member 54;

Integral with the portions are radially extending arms 55, which lieadjacent the outer face 01"- ring27 and are adapted-for engagementbyadjusting screws 56, which are threaded into bosses 5'? on the ring 27.

In using the device, assumingthat the motor is niwound, the first stepis-to tensionthe springs 1.5 and 19 to produce rotativ'e force. Thisisaccomplishedby rotating the shaft 3 fronr the crank and gear mechanismprovided for that purpose, it beingapparent that asthesleeve i" isfixedto the collar 24, the spring 19 fixed to the sleeve 7 andmotor drum andthe spring-15 fixed to the drum and sleeve 6,.when the crank isoperatingthe gear wheel 8 will revolve the sleeve 6 and as the collar 24is held against rotation by the speed controlling lever 50, thatcontacts with the governor mechanism, the spring 15 will be wound aboutthe sleeve 6 and thespringlt) about the=sleeve 7, the reversearrangement 01'? the springs causing-the same to be tensioned inopposite directions, one'internally iii-omits sleeve and the otherexternally i'roni the drum. lVhile themotor is held from the speedcontrolling member 50, this'holding action is not directly on the motorbut through the equalizing device, comprising the floating member 54,having gear connection with the'governor shaft so that it is heldagainst rotation when the governor is locked. As the spring drum isturned in the direction oithe arrows, Fig. II, the adjusting'screws56"on-the"ring 27 oi thecollar 24 abut against the arms55i onthenfloating member 54 and initia'l'lymove. said member about,tensioningsprings-5'1, this movement oi the floatingniemberand rings27contii'iuin until -the cam lever 39 engages oneof the sti ids 40 on thegear 41 and rocks the lever.

band 30 and move the hand to contact with the ratchet band 33. As theband 33 is held against rotation in the direction or" the arrows, Fig.11, by the pawl 36, the sleeve 7 is locked and continued operation oithe crank winds the motor springs until they have been properlytensioned.

lVith the motor tcnsioned, when it is de sired to operate the apparatusfor which the motor provides motive power, the speed con trollingmechanism or governor is released through the part 50, to permit thegear wheel 41 to revolve. As soon as the gear wheel is released, thestud 40 moves away from the cam lever 39 under the influenceof'springs51 and the spreadband is released and moves away from the ratchet ring33, thereby freeing the collar 24 so that the collar may revolve undertension of the sp 'ing motor and retension springs 51. The motor springsare considerablystifi'er when the motor is wound to the maximum butreduces its proportional tension as the motor runs down, so that thethrust of the adjusting screws 56 on the arms 55 carries thefioatingmember 54 about a ainst the springs 51 and when the springsaretensioned car- .ries the gear wheel 41 about its center, therebyoperating the shaft 45 and any driven member that may be connectedtherewith. As the drivingiorce ofthe motor springs exceeds resistance ofsprings 51, the ring'Q-Y tension of springs 51 until stud 40 is carriedaway from the cam lever 39 and the motor again freed to effect a furtherdriven or thrust operation. This action continues as the motor runsdown, until the tension of the springs 51 equals that of the motorsprings, at which point the cam 32 ceases to act and the springs 51merely act links between the gear wheel 41 and the floating member 54and gear wheel 41 is thereby driven as if connected directly to thesleeve 7 of the motor.

When the speed control device ,50 is opened, thegovernor is released andwill revolve in proportion to the amount the speed control device isopened; and operate any machine or mechanism driven from, the shaft 45.

43. continues to moveabout this, center under against the arm 39 andturn the ring 0 It will be noted, however, that as the governor isrevolved from the gear ll, the gear receives its tension from thesprings 51 and not from the spring motor, and that when the spread-band30 is loosened, the spring motor is permitted to revolve suliiciently tore-tension the springs 51, whereupon the arm 39 again moves against thestud 40 to lock the motor on the ring 33.

As this move-n'ient is seltcontaincei and substantially constant, it isapps rant that irrespective of how fast the motor unwinds or how fastthe power is taken oil, the pres sure on the shaft will be constant. Itis also apparent that the result will be the same it the governor is notconnected in train and the shaft 4:5 coupled to an intermittent movementwherein it is desirable to have a constant even tension maintained atall times.

With some machinery, it is desirable or necessary to reverse the actionfor a short period, and in order that this feature may be accomplished wthout extra mechanism, 1 have provided the ratchet teeth. 35 on the ring33 so that ii the shaft a5 and adjacent gearing is reversed, the stud l0will move backwardly so that the pawl 36 will engage another tooth amongthe teeth 35 and maintain the same conditions.

It is apparent that during the reverse movement, the equalizer turns asa unit and tends to rewind the spring motor to a greater tension so thatnothing is lost and all the revolutions of the motor may be counted asapplied to the forward movement of the shaft 45.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In combination with a variabledriving member, a driven member, and flexible connection between thedriving member-and driven member for maintaining constant tension on thedriven member irrespective of variations in power of the driving memberand comprising means for adjusting the tension of said connection, saidconnection being under control of the driven member to retard thedriving member.

2. In combination with a motor and a driven member, an equalizercomprising a driving member operatively connected with the motor,floating member operatively connected with the driving member, yieldingmeans connecting the floating member with the driven member, a brake forthe driving member, and means operable from the driven member forsetting the brake.

3. In combination with a spring motor and a gear train, an equalizercomprising a driving member operatively connected with the motor, afioating member operatively connected with the driving member, a gearmeshing with the gear train, springs connecting said gear and floatingmet her, a brake for said driving member, and a cam operable from saidgear ior setting said brake.

in wnnbination with a driven element, transmission operably connectedwith the driven element comprising a driving member having stopsthereon, a brake ring, a motor, a brake band connected with themotor,'afloating memh operably connected with the motor, springs connecting thefloating member with said stops to tension the transmission, and bandctuating means movable with the motor and adapted for engaging one ofsaid stops to actuate the brake member and stop the motor.

5. In combination witl a driven element. driving mechanism for thedriven element including a wheel having laterally project ing studs, amotor comprising annular rails, a brake on said rails, expansible brakeband arranged forlockingengagement with the ring and hi a contact armfor engaging a wheel stud, a floating ring having stop members thereon,springs anchored to the floating ring and to the studs on thetransmission wheel, and means on the motor for engaging the ring stopsto tension the springs.

6. In combination with a driven element,

actuating mechanism for the driven element comprising a transmission,studs on one of the transmission members, a motor comprisinga drumhaving spaced rails, a floating ring anchored to the rails, means forholding the ring against travel with the motor, a split brake bandmounted on the motor between the rails and having spaced contact heads,a lever having a head pivotally mounted between the brake band heads andhaving an arm for engaging the wheel stud, a floating member having stopmembers, springs connecting the floating member with the wheel studs,and adjusting screws fixed to the motor and engaging the stop members toadvance the floating ring when the motor is released.

7 In combination with a spring motor, a gear train and a supportingframe, an equalizer comprising a driving member operatively connectedwith the motor, a ring surrounding said driving member and locked tosaid supporting frame, a brake band on said driving member, a cam insaid driving member adapted to expand said band against said ring, alever on sr-iid'oam, a gear opertively connected to said gear train,laterally directed studs on said gear, one of which is adapted to engageid cam lever, a floating member having driving engagement with saiddriving member, springs connecting said gear studs and said floatingmemher, and means for tensioning said motor to lock said brake.

band on said driving member, means for expanding said brak, band againstsaid brake ring to lock the motor, a gear operatively connected with thegear train and adapted to actuate said GXPHDCHDg'lTIQtLUS, a floatingmember adopted to be driven it one said driving member, springsconnecting said floating member with said gear, and means for releasingsaid gear train to re lease said'breke and tension said springs.

9. In combination with a spring motor, a gear train and a supportingframe, an equal izer comprising a driving member, lugs on said drivingmember, adjusting screws in said lugs, a floating member contacting saidadjusting screws, :1 gear operetiveiy CS1": nected with the gear train,springs eonneeted with said gear and with said :tieating member, andmeans operabie from said gear for locking said driving; meniber to said.

frame.

10. In combination with a spring motor, a gear train and e supportingframe, an equalizer comprising a driving member, a

ed vii-tn the gear train, springs connecting id gear and floatingmember, adjusting screws on the dr'ving member for driving aid floating;member ond tensioning said prings, and means operabie from the gear orlookingsaid driving member to said sup- )orting frame.

.il. in combination with a spring motor,

n ear train and a su moi-tin frame. an i i. in

equaiizer comprising a drivingimember operativeiy connected with'themotor, a brake on the driving member, a ring surrounding the brakeandhnving a plurality of external ratrithet teeth rvieidebie 1' twi insaid frame for enga 1 said ring teeth, a floatin member operatlveiyconnected with said driving member, a gear wheel in said. gear train,springs connecting said floating inemher with said gear wheei forioeiring said driving member to said ring and holding the motor andwhereby the equalizer may be turned baekwardiy as a unit to wind thespring motor.

In testimony whereof 1 21th:: my signature in presence oi two witnesse aEDWIN H. PIERSEN.

' Witnesses:

W. H. Mn'rznonr, F. KENNEDY.

